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HD Hyundai affiliates collaborate on AI-powered welding robots project

Published: 23 Mar. 2026, 14:34

From left to right, Song Young-hoon, head of the solutions development division at HD Hyundai Robotics; Lee Dong-joo, head of the manufacturing innovation institute at HD KSOE and Persona AI CEO Nick Radford pose for a commemorative photo at HD Hyundai's global research and development center in Pangyo, Gyeonggi, after the companies signed a partnership agreement to develop AI-powered humanoid welding robots, in this photo provided by HD Hyundai on March 23. [HD HYUNDAI]

HD Hyundai said Monday its key affiliates and a U.S. robotics firm have forged a partnership to develop and commercialize artificial intelligence (AI)-powered humanoid welding robots for shipyard projects.

The partnership agreement was signed recently between HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and HD Hyundai Robotics, along with Persona AI, a Houston-based company specializing in humanoid robots, according to the Korean shipbuilder.

It is a follow-up to a memorandum of understanding signed in May of last year on developing humanoid robots for shipyard welding. HD Hyundai noted that a prototype under development since last year has demonstrated sufficient technological feasibility and potential.

Under the agreement, HD KSOE will develop welding training technologies for robots using data accumulated at shipyards, while HD Hyundai Robotics will oversee system integration for robot deployments.

Persona AI plans to develop a bipedal humanoid platform capable of stable movement in shipyard environments. HD Hyundai said it plans to gradually deploy shipyard-specific humanoid welding robots at actual shipbuilding sites capable of performing complex tasks.

Yonhap